Canadian church compares the nativity of Jesus to refugee crisis in lead-up to Christmas

‘We are trying to get people to look at the current Syrian refugee crisis from a different perspective,' says vicar

A traditional Nativity play (Getty)

A Canadian church is comparing the story of the birth of Jesus Christ to the Syrian refugee crisis, in a bid to foster tolerance and change perceptions towards people fleeing war-torn countries.

St Mark’s Anglican Church in St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, put up a large sign outside reading ‘Christmas: A story about a Middle East family seeking refuge’ in early December.

Reverend Robert Cooke, a vicar at St Mark’s since 2010, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: “We are trying to engage in a conversation. We are trying to get people to look at the current Syrian refugee crisis from a different perspective.

“There is a fair bit of, maybe, animosity right now towards the whole process and, we feel, towards Muslims in general.”

Reverend Cooke said there had been some negative reactions, but that the focus was on the positive feedback received.

The parish community of St Mark’s will be sponsoring a Syrian refugee family in the first half of the new year. The congregation raised $20,000 in three weeks to help the family, and will be working with the Association for New Canadians to find them a home and resettle.

Canada is preparing to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees over the next few months, with the federal government aiming to move 10,000 refugees by the end of December.